Russell Pearce's brother resigns from North Mesa Justice Court

Lester Pearce resigned his post as presiding justice of the peace of the North Mesa Justice Court to run for a seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

Pearce, brother of former state Senate President Russell Pearce, in February created an exploratory committee for the District 2 county supervisor seat now filled by Supervisor Don Stapley.

In his resignation letter to the county Board of Supervisors, Pearce said he was resigning to comply with the Arizona Code of Judicial Conduct. Pearce last month told The Arizona Republic his exploratory committee was reviewing whether a sitting judge could run an official campaign for county supervisor.

Pearce will face two opponents.

Steve Chucri, president of the Arizona Restaurant Association, who declared his campaign last September. Chucri had raised $63,876.76 as of January, according to campaign-finance records.

David Ortega, an architect and former Scottsdale City councilman, declared his campaign in March, past the January 31 deadline for campaign-finance records.

The signature-filing deadline for candidates is 5 p.m., May 30.

Pearce has been justice of the peace since 1997. Associate Presiding Judge Clancy Jayne will take over presiding judge duties, according to Maricopa County Justice Courts.

Chucri has been endorsed by mayors Scott Smith of Mesa, John Lewis of Gilbert, Jay Tibshraeny of Chandler, Scott LeMarr of Paradise Valley and Jim Lane of Scottsdale, according to his campaign.

Stapley, who has held the board seat for 16 years, is not running for re-election. He announced he would run for Congressional District 9, but less than three weeks later, he withdrew from the race.